Metropolitan AME Celebrates 175 Years in Ministry

The Right Rev. Samuel Lawrence Green Sr., 125th Bishop of the A.M.E. church and head of the church’s 12th District, will join senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Braxton along with the membership of Metropolitan, the A.M.E. family and the community to celebrate the church’s 175th anniversary, 10 a.m., July 21 at 1518 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., only blocks from the White House.

Founded in 1838, Metropolitan—the “National Cathedral of African Methodism”— has a rich history of pioneering change, inspiring social activism and promoting advocacy to achieve justice for all people. It was formed by two existing churches: Israel Bethel A.M.E., founded in 1821 and Union Bethel A.M.E. founded in 1838. The parent A.M.E. Church movement grew out of an anti–segregation protest in Philadelphia in 1787.

Similarly, both Israel Bethel and Union Bethel began as a result of dissatisfaction among African Americans over racial segregation in Washington at Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church. The name of the church was officially changed to Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in 1872 at the Baltimore Conference.